Finance minister P Chidambaram on Wednesday expressed his delight with the Congress party getting absolute majority in Karnataka, saying the state will now get a stable, progressive and hard-working government for the next five years.

"We are happy. I have seen different numbers in different channels, but it appears that all channels are agreeing that Congress will have an absolute majority in the house. We are very happy that people of Karnataka have voted the Congress party with an absolute majority," Chidambaram told media persons outside the Parliament in New Delhi.

"Voting the Congress party is one thing, but voting it with an absolute majority means that there will be a stable government for five years. And we can now promise the people of Karnataka that we will give a stable government, a progressive government and a hard-working government for the next five years," he added.

Taking on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Chidambaram said there is a need to repair the financial position of the state.

"The financial position of Karnataka is quite bad that is the way they have left it. So, we need to repair the financial position of Karnataka," he added.

Chidambaram also played down the fact that Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi was a factor in Karnataka.

"I don't think ever Mr Modi will say that he was a factor in Karnataka," he said.

Modi, touted by many to be the BJP's prime ministerial candidate in 2014, campaigned for the party in Karnataka in an effort that it is re-elected to power.

Modi, who secured an electoral hat-trick in Gujarat, left no stone unturned in targetting the Gandhi family and the ruling Congress Party at the Centre during his election campaigns in Karnataka.

The finance minister further said result of the Karnataka polls gives a clear message to all political parties that the people watches very closely and very carefully.

"And we have to deliver. A government that does not deliver, lives on rhetoric is not going to be re-elected and the government in Karnataka was such a government. So, this is a lesson to whoever forms the government must deliver on the ground," he added.

As per the latest trends, the Congress was set to return to power in Karnataka, with its candidates winning 40 seats and leading in 79 seats.

While the ruling BJP has been pushed to the third spot, leading only in 35 seats. The Janata Dal-Secular is leading in 42 seats.

The Karnataka Janatha Party (KJP), which is led by former chief minister BS Yeddyurappa, is leading in eight seats.

Counting of votes for the Karnataka assembly elections, which witnessed a 70.23% voter turnout on May 5, began this morning at 8 am amidst tight security.

In the 2008 elections, BJP secured 110 seats, three short of majority and formed the government with the help of five independents who were made ministers. Congress bagged 80 seats and JD-S 28. The overall voter turnout then was 64.91%.